Sex beast back on the streets as victim warns he'll strike again

John McDermott, second left, with his sick brothers Peter Paul, Owen Roe and Jimmy

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Sex monster John McDermott is back on our streets – and one of his victims fears it’s only a matter of time before he strikes again.

The twisted child abuser is a free man after serving five years of a 10-year sentence for a series of horrific attacks on nine children.

However, it is suspected there were many more victims of the notorious predator.

McDermott, 64, along with his brothers James, Owen and Peter Paul left dozens of lives in tatters during their reign of sex terror spanning nearly 40 years in the small village of Donagh, Co Fermanagh.

Victims campaigner Michael Connolly, who suffered horrendous abuse at the clutches of the brothers, chillingly warned: “I’ve no doubt in my mind that Johnny McDermott will attack again. Johnny McDermott won’t be able to help himself.

“He’s abused people over four generations and he and his brothers have left in excess of 40 people in treatment.

“He’s a very dangerous man because he still wants to get his needs met and he’ll do it any way or manipulate any way he can to do so.

“He will use any opportunity he can to get to a child.

“I’m very fearful for people that he’s back on the streets. He’ll risk anything to get at another child.

“I wouldn’t trust him with a dog never mind to be out on the streets. I know this man and how manipulative he can be.

“He’s honed this over 40 years – this time in prison won’t change that.”

John McDermott served five years of his 10-year sentence

Mr Connolly slammed how the child rapist benefited from 50% sentencing remission meaning he served just five years of a 10-year jail term.

He said: “Remission shouldn’t be automatic. It should be earned.

“It’s a scandal in itself. There should be no remission for these guys.

“Remission should be earned through taking part in a meaningful sex treatment programme to reassure the public.

“No one knows what treatment, if any, he took part in in prison.

“At the moment criminals can’t be forced to take part in these treatment programmes because of human rights legislation but this way they would have to earn any remission instead of it being given as an automatic right.”

As one of the brute’s many victims, Mr Connolly has been informed by the Victims’ Support Agency of his release.

The dedicated campaigner, who has been calling on Stormont to set up a separate Catholic Church abuse inquiry, is entitled to know where his attacker is now living.

The Donegal-based man is planning to write to the Victims’ Support Agency to be able to avoid any chance encounter with one of the men who robbed him of his childhood.

He said: “I don’t want to be walking down the street and come face-to-face with my abuser. That would be horrific.”

There was outrage within the Co Fermanagh village when the vile abusers were originally placed back into the community where they caused such devastation.

Mr Connolly added: “I hope the authorities will have the common sense not to put him back in Donagh or close by as that will re-traumatise the people of the village and survivors.

“Donagh has moved on and it’s a gorgeous little village and because of the efforts of the survivors it’s now probably one of the safest villages in the UK because of their bravery in getting rid of the brothers.